20 Dec Cold is Cool! Fourth and Fifth Graders Ski All Winter with the Cold is Cool Ski & Ride Passport App
Clarkston, MI – December 2024 – Michigan ski areas are making winter more affordable and fun for families with the “Cold is Cool” Ski & Ride Passport App, allowing 4th and 5th graders to ski for free at 28 participating ski areas across the state. Each child with a Passport can enjoy up to three free visits per ski area, with a paying adult. This amounts to more than 90 lift tickets and trail passes for just $30. Included in that cost is an $8 donation to MIsnow, a nonprofit focused on introducing Michigan’s youth to winter sports, promoting diversity and inclusion, and educating on sustainability practices. Lift tickets through the Passport program are generously donated by the participating ski areas.
Steve Kershner, chairman of the Michigan Snowsports Industries Association (MSIA), explains that fourth and fifth graders are at an ideal age to start skiing or snowboarding. “They have the coordination and enthusiasm to pick up the sport quickly,” says Kershner.
Parents can apply for the Passport online at goskimichigan.com or coldiscool.org. The process requires a photo of the child and proof of their grade, such as a report card or progress report. Once documentation is approved, the app becomes available. For those who need instant access, visiting a participating Michigan ski retailer with proof of grade offers immediate app activation—ideal for families looking to hit the slopes right away, according to Mike Panich, MSIA’s Executive Director.
Each child must be accompanied by a paying adult when using the free lift or trail passes. “We want to make sure kids are safe on the slopes and trails, and this is also a great way to make skiing a family-friendly and affordable activity,” adds Kershner. Up to two children with a Passport can ski for free per paying adult. The Passport is valid through the entire 2024/25 ski season.
The Cold is Cool Passport App includes more than just lift tickets. Families can enjoy 20% off a helmet purchase and $20 off a purchase of $100 on non-sale items at participating ski shops.
Participating ski areas:
Upper Peninsula: Big Powderhorn, Bessemer; Marquette Mountain, Marquette; Mont Ripley, Hancock; Norway Mountain Resort, Norway: Pine Mountain, Iron Mountain; Porcupine Mountain, Ontonagon; Snowriver Mountain Resort, Bessemer/Wakefield.
Northwestern Lower Peninsula: Boyne Mountain, Boyne Falls; Caberfae Peaks, Cadillac; Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville; Hickory Hills, Traverse City; Mt. Holiday, Traverse City; Nubs Nob, Harbor Springs; Shanty Creek Resort, Bellaire; The Highlands at Harbor Springs, Harbor Springs; The Homestead, Glen Arbor.
North Central Lower Peninsula: Cross Country Ski Headquarters, Roscommon; Forbush Corner Nordic, Frederic; Hanson Hills, Grayling; Otsego Club & Resort, Gaylord; Snow Snake Ski & Golf, Harrison; Treetops Resort, Gaylord.
West Central Lower Peninsula: Cannonsburg Ski Area, Belmont.
Southwestern Lower Peninsula: Bittersweet Ski Resort, Otsego; Swiss Valley Ski Area, Jones; Timber Ridge Ski Area, Gobles.
Southeastern Lower Peninsula: Mt. Brighton, Brighton; Mt. Holly, Holly.
The Cold is Cool Passport App is a key element of MSIA’s broader “Cold is Cool” program, which aims to improve the health and well-being of Michigan’s children by encouraging outdoor winter activities for kids and their families.